Cousins!

A week or so ago our fun cousins from Arizona, Geneva and Miles, left Chicago and returned to their home. We miss them! While they were here we had lots of fun....

Babies played and piled

I think they enjoyed discovering what another baby felt like

We went to the Arboretum, it was very pretty and fun too. I especially like that the two boys have the same expression on their faces

I am a homemaker, not a housekeeper

When we decided it was time for children, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to quit working outside the home. I looked forward to a life of fulfillment doing the three Cs- cooking, cleaning, and crafting. In other words, I knew how to keep house and how to entertain myself.
Then, my perfect "bun in the oven" came sliding out with a thick crust of reality.
I felt inadequate because I couldn't cook, clean, and take care of a baby. Slowly I have realized a truth all great moms already know; housekeeping is not homemaking and no amount of cleaning or cooking creates a home on its own.
In fact, a family home is exactly that. It's tailor-made by a family, for that family. We are new to this, and have a lot (really, a staggeringly large amount) to learn. But I am proud to own the job title on my bank account: Home Maker.
What makes our home? Well right now our best days go like this: start with some good sleep, add three meals or more. Mix in a healthy scoop of Hard work, then a double portion of Don't sweat the small stuff , stir. Fold in some exercise and let it rest. Add adventure to taste. Serve immediately to family members with compassion; don't forget a tall, tall glass full of forgiveness for the aftertaste of inadvertent emotions.
Time for a simile. Being a home maker is like singing in a chorus of cats. No matter how well you know and love all the kitties, it will still take a shocking amount of perseverance to orchestrate a pleasant melody and the amount of accomplishment you feel is directly related to the amount of luck you have.
Who knows what the secret to our recipe will turn out to be; I do know that I wouldn't trade my family of melodious felines for anything. We learn together, make wonderful awful hilarious memories together, and work together to create something resembling music. I aspire to be as accomplished a caterwauler as the many mothers I know. For now, I'm learning to let the housekeeping go a little and focus on the happy home-making and that's enough for this cat.

Banana

Today, I was eating a very ripe banana, Korrali was in our Ergobaby, and she reached down and grabbed the banana by its peel, pulled it to her mouth, and chomped.

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

I quickly ran down the "checklist" (per our pediatricians office) of when baby is ready for solids:

Sitting well supported, sometimes sitting on her own. Yeup.
Losing her tongue-thrust reflex - yes. She is chomping more and more.
Interest in my food. Yes. Proof? Banana.
Over 4 mo? she is just over 5...

So, we gave her the rest of my banana.


Her proudest moment was when she leaned over and used her arms to scrunch the entire
banana into her face. She looked up after a few chomps and grinned.. "hahah!"

Squishing and grabbing said banana.

It's an egg! It's a Pancake! No wait.. it's A Sterilized Pacifier!

Yes, I was distracted. For a few minutes longer than I thought I would be.

Doggy Daycare

I was cooking the other day, and Korrali was rolling around on our carpet. I popped out to check on her and this is what I saw:

Teo had come and was babysitting while Korrali played with a little crunchy sack I made her.

This is also fairly common.. He can't keep himself away from her. And feels like he must love on her.. or pop her bedroom door open to peek at her.

She usually giggles when he licks her.. and its usually her hands or feet.

Even though some days he makes my life difficult, I sure am glad we have a Dog Daddy around too. Maybe I could train him to change a diaper?

Reading is for babies!

I have been struggling lately with boredom. Not my boredom - K's boredom.
K's review of "Exploration Encouragement" Toys:
Playgym
 "It's nice. For about 30 seconds. Then I prefer tummy time."
Tummy Time Toys
" They're fun, if Mommy is holding them when I'm not doing Tummy Time"
Tummy Time Quilt/BLanket/Alternate padding under her
"I've seen it."
Books out at Tummy Time
silent baby for 10 min at a time, then all I have to do is turn the page!

Shh! I'm reading!

Today

Has it really been 12 years? It feels like far less time has gone by since I heard the early morning news report in the car on the way to seminary. The time: 5:54 am on my dad's car radio is still easily called to mind. I heard a strange report... and went to seminary. I remember feeling confused, and a vague sense of aprehension and concern as I sat through seminary and a full day of school before rushing home to learn more. The weirdness of detached reality as I watched what appeared at first to be a movie... the smoke billowing out of the World Trade Center, and heard the newscaster exclaim "in what looks like an accide- no! the other tower has been hit!" and then watched it over and over as the news channels all covered the same footage as the rest of the story unfolded.
I lost my sense if indestructibility.
My blind faith in the security of America.
My naive belief that because I loved America, so did everyone else.
I gained increased faith in God.
Respect for the armed forces.
The realization that as an ordinary citizen, I must be aware of my surroundings, and actively work for good and to prevent evil.
I learned that life is precious; as a young teenager I was taught that my choices today matter because there might not be tomorrow.
That God inspires us to do small things which have life altering consequences. That He is everywhere, even in an event of catasrophic proportions. He does not prevent the use of agency to do evil, but He does inspire to stay away, leave early, or heal the wounds of heart and soul.
That vengeance leads to vengeance, hate leads to hate, and that the only way to end violence and hatred is to feed hungry bodies, teach hungry souls truth, and enlighten hungry minds with right principles. When people are cared for and know christ-like love the powers of hatred and revenge are abolished.

Tonight, I hope for the strength to teach my daughter how to learn from the past, and make a positive difference in her future world.